Facial Trauma

Traumatic injuries can happen at any moment. When you and your loved ones require care for a facial injury, Dr. Larson and the team at Breakwater Oral Maxillofacial Surgery & Dental Implants are here to help. Dr. Larson is both an oral surgeon and physician and manages a range of facial injuries. Using advanced 3D imaging, we will create a custom treatment plan for your needs and monitor your progress to ensure optimal results. With care from our expert surgeon and staff, we can help you recover from facial trauma, improve oral function, and restore your confidence. Contact our practice in Norton Shores, MI, today to schedule an appointment if you have experienced a traumatic injury, either recently or in the past.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency room and receive care from the oral surgeon on call.

What Is Facial Trauma?

Facial trauma refers to injuries to the soft or hard tissues of the face, mouth, or jaws. This includes the teeth, facial bones, gums, and facial nerves. Injuries to the face can not only affect the ability to eat or speak, they can also affect facial appearance. Treating facial injuries involves caring for the physical aspects as well as providing emotional support as we restore aesthetics to the facial region. Our team understands the stressful nature of traumatic injuries, and we are here to provide support and guidance throughout your oral surgery care.

Types of Facial Injuries

There are many types of facial injuries that range from being relatively minor to more severe or even life-threatening. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons can manage the following conditions:

• Facial lacerations
• Intraoral lacerations
• Knocked-out (avulsed) teeth
• Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, or eye socket)
• Fractured jaws (upper and/or lower jaw)
• Facial burns
• Nerve damage

Repairing Traumatic Facial Injuries

Treatment for a facial injury will depend on the type and severity of the injury. Dr. Larson creates a custom treatment plan for every patient and will use 3D scans to assess the facial bones and tissues throughout treatment. If you arrive in the emergency room for a facial injury, anesthesia will likely be administered to prevent pain while the responding surgeon administers care. For scheduled procedures on your treatment journey, we will discuss your options for anesthesia beforehand to ensure your comfort. There are many options available, and the right choice will depend on the type of procedure being performed and your level of anxiety.

When treating soft tissue injuries, reconstructive surgery may be performed to repair tissue and reconnect facial nerves. Sutures can help close lacerations and bone grafts can rebuild bone or tissue where it is needed. For cases involving broken facial bones, we will surgically align the bones and use plates or screws to hold them in place as they heal. We may perform orthognathic surgery to reposition the jaws and improve facial aesthetics.

We will outline the details of your treatment with you to keep you informed throughout each step of your treatment journey. The goal of managing traumatic facial injuries is to restore oral health and function to the oral and maxillofacial regions while achieving aesthetically pleasing results. Whenever possible, Dr. Larson will make incisions from within the mouth to reduce visible scarring.

Treatment for Facial Trauma in Norton Shores, MI

If you have experienced a traumatic facial injury that is life-threatening or require care after our business hours, go to the nearest emergency room. If you have knocked-out teeth or are experiencing a facial injury that is not life-threatening, contact Breakwater Oral Maxillofacial Surgery & Dental Implants in Norton Shores, MI. A member of our staff will advise you on the next steps to take and if you need to be seen in our office, we will make accommodations to see you as soon as possible.